Automatic cistern-cleaner.



IG. O. LA CROIX. AUTOMATIC CISTERN CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1912.

1,054,004. Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

y ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` 'F'@ GEORGE 0.111,"Af cao1x,"'orfroLEDo,omo.

Mrroawrro emanan-CLEANER.

'Bp'eoicatioa of Letton Patent.

Patented Feb. 25,1913.

Appnoann aan september es, 1912. serali No. 722,552.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it knownthat 1,'Geonon O. LACROIX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county-of Lucasand State of Ohio, have inventedl a new and useful ,AutomaticGtern-Cleaner, of whiclrthe following is aspecification. y .y

This invention relates to a cistern cleaner, and aimsfto provide a novel and improved device of this character.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a cistern cleaner, which shall be automatic in action, which shall be simple, durable and com act in construction2 and which shall be e ect-ive and efiicient in its operation.

This invention also contem lates. a cistern cleaner, which is applicab e to cisterns having either a flat or concaved bottom, with equal propriety. 4

This invention also provides further details and advantages, which will be apparent as the invention is better understood.

The invention resides in the novel construction, arrangement and combination o f )arts hereinafter set forth and claimed, 1t lacing understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical central section of a cistern embodying the improved cistern cleaner. Fig. 2 1s a bottom view of the cleaner.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the cistern has been designated by the numeral 3, the saaie being of any preferred construction and being provided at its upper end with a manhole 4. This cistern is provided in one wall and adjacent the upper end thereof with an o ening 5, said opening being at a height w iich shall determine the highest level of the water within the cistern.

In carrying out the present invention, an eduction pipe 6 is arranged eccentrically within the cistern 3, the up er end of the said ipe being bent angular y as indicated by tie numeral 7 so as to pass through the opening 5, the said upper end tapering so as to provide a reduced outlet. This eduction pipe is in the form of an elbow, one arm of which is of equal diameter throughout and extends eccentrically of the cistern or to one side of the axis thereof, and the other arm being tapered toward its outer end and passing through the Wall of the cistern. A suitable pipe or elbow 8 is slipped over the outer end of the arm 7 and communicates with a suitable drain for carrying off the overflow water.

A pair of eccentric cones 9 and 10 are arranged in the lower end of the cistern, the inner cone 9 having an annular flange 11 at its apex which is rigidly secured to the lower end of the pipe 6, and the outer cone l0 having an annular fiange 12 at its apex loosely engaging the lower end of the said pipe 1n order to be slidable thereon. Each of the cones t) and 10 has a pluralit of short legs 13 attached to the perip iery thereof, the said legs or supports being adapted to rest on the bottom of the cistern in order to support the cones slightly above the bottom. The axis of the inner cone 9 is inclined away from the axis of the cistern, while the axis of the outer cone is inclined at a greater angle from the axis of the cistern, the peripheries of the inner and outer cones being eccentric and concentric, respectively, relative to t-he cistern, and the eriphery of the outer cone extending adjacent the wall of the cistern. The legs 13 support the peripheries of the concs slightly above the bottom of the cistern, and it will be apparent, that when the bottom of the cistern is concaved or dished, the outer cone 10 will be slid upwardly on the pipe 6, but will still be retained in pro )er spaced osition relative to the bottom y means o the le rs 13 secured around the periphery thereo Thus, it will be apparent tint the cleaner may be employed with cisterus having either Hat or concaved bottoms, without decreasing the efiieicncy of the device in either case.

The cistern is provided with the usual inlet pipe and outlet pipe, and it will be. apparent, that when the level of the water within the cistern rises above the opening the excessive water may flow upwardly through the eduction pipe 6 and will be discharged into the drain, thereby providing an automat-ic action. Inasmueh as the foul water leaves and other extraneous matter will precipitate to the bottom of the cisteru. it will follow, that the same will be disltlie lll chai-Gelli. from the eistern through l the e* G, the cistern thus beingl1jautomatical y scavenged or cleansed. Thus with the provision of the cleaner,"tl1e water intheicistern may be kept pure, the 'precipitates being ffradually'ledoif through-the eduction pipe. sl`he outer cone 10 having its periphery. extending to the wall of the cistern' will canse the precipitates to pass around the periphery thereof -thereby removing all 'the precipitates from the'bottom and' corners of the cistern. The eduction pipe 'G being arranged to one side'of thecenterJ of the cistern will eliminate any obstruction withinthe eizsternl below the manhole, such as might encnmber thecistern.

Harinar thus is claimed is 1. A cistern cleaner embodying an eduction pipe and a pair of cones, one arranged within the other, the inner cone being attached rigidly at its apex to the lower end of the eduction ipe, and the apex of the outer cone slidab y engaging the lower end of the said pipe.

described the invention, what 2. A cistern cleaner embodying an educvrtion. pipe, a pair of cones, one arranged within the other, the inner cone being attached rigidly at its apex to the lower endl of the eduction pipe, and the apex of the I outer cone slidab y engaging the lower end of the said ipe, and short supports secured to the perip ery of each cone.

3. A cistern cleaner embodying an eduo tion pipe and a pair of cones having annuf lar flan es at their apices and having a peripheraf support, one cone being arranged within the ot-her cone, the iiange of the inner cone being attached rigidly to the lower end of the eduction pipe, and the fiange of the outer cone slidably engaging the lower end of the said pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signatnre in the presence of t'wo witnesses.

GEORGE O. LA CROIX.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. ROGERS, E. L. HAT'reNDom-x Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatents, Washington, IJ. 0. 

